REQUEST FOR ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT BROOKSIDE AVENUE AND ST. MARKS ROAD

(Ward 27 - York-Humber)

Director of Transportation Services, District 1

(March 15, 1999)

Purpose:

To respond to a request from York Community Council to evaluate the need for an all-way stop control at the intersection of Brookside Avenue and St. Marks Road.

Funding Sources:

None required.

Recommendation:

That this report be received for information.

Background:

York Community Council, at its meeting of December 9, 1998 considered a request from Councillor Bill Saundercook to review the feasibility of installing an all-way stop control at the intersection of Brookside Avenue and St. Marks Road. (Clause No. 7(w) of Report No. 15)

Comments:

Brookside Avenue is classified as a local roadway operating two-way in a north/south direction between Dundas Street West and St. Marks Road. St. Marks Road is classified as a collector roadway between Varsity Road and Jane Street, operating two-way in an east/west direction. These streets form a "T" intersection, currently controlled with a stop sign for southbound traffic on Brookside Avenue.

In order for all-way stop control, to be justified at an intersection, established warrant criteria must be fulfilled. The criteria include such factors as right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian usage of the intersection, physical and geometric configuration, and surrounding area traffic control. This intersection does not satisfy the operational elements for the installation of an all-way stop sign control.

Specifically, in analyzing the eight (8) hour count data of vehicular volume, from all approaches, the results of our study indicated that an average of 119 vehicles were record per hour. These are very low hourly volumes when dealing with all-way stop control conditions. Also, Toronto Police Service collision records for this intersection for the three year period from January 1, 1995 to December31,1997 revealed that there were no reported collisions at this intersection.

Conclusions:

Due to very low traffic volumes, no reported collision experience, and no unusual physical characteristics, an all-way stop control is not warranted at the intersection of Brookside Avenue and St. Marks Road. It should also be mentioned that the installation of a particular control in a situation where it is not warranted will not necessarily guarantee safer conditions. Such measures tend to erode driver respect and obedience of these controls, leading to a degree of non-compliance.